El Clasico: Gerard Martin sets for Copa del Rey final

Gerard Martin is expected to start for Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, with the 23-year-old full-back in line to make his first appearance in a Clasico.

With Alejandro Balde sidelined, all eyes are on Martin—and some doubts too—as he prepares for the challenge of stepping into the left-back role at La Cartuja.

So far, Hansi Flick appears to have placed his trust in Martin as Balde’s stand-in. Before the Spain international’s injury, the number 35 had seen sporadic playing time, with a handful of starts among many appearances from the bench—or none at all. But in Balde’s absence, the left flank of Barcelona’s defence in the final now seems destined to be his.

It would mark a major milestone for Martin, who has clocked up 1,293 minutes across 34 matches this season—12 of them as a starter. His potential duel with Vinicius Jr adds to the sense of anticipation, while also fuelling concerns over his readiness.

Some within the Barcelona camp are reportedly unconvinced by his displays, and there have been calls for Hector Fort to be given the nod instead.

Fort started against Mallorca on the opposite flank, in what may have been a tactical experiment by Flick. However, given that Jules Kounde was also rested in favour of Eric Garcia, it’s more likely it was simply a squad rotation.

Martin came on for Balde when the latter suffered his injury at Butarque, played the full match in the return leg against Borussia Dortmund, and was subbed off in the 87th minute against Celta, before making a late cameo in the following game. Unless Flick has had a change of heart in light of recent criticism, the German coach’s initial plan still seems to be to trust Martin in this high-stakes fixture.

Facing Vinicius, Martin’s lack of blistering pace could prove problematic. Concerns have also been raised about his technical quality on the ball—an essential trait for Barcelona full-backs past and present. His recent performances have shown signs of imprecision, with many feeling that the team’s attacking rhythm tends to stall when he’s on the ball.

There’s also a noticeable lack of chemistry with Raphinha on the left. The Brazilian thrives on the dynamic, often chaotic forward runs of Balde, which haven’t been replicated with Martin. By contrast, the understanding between Kounde and Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank has been so seamless that it highlights the disconnect on the left even further.

Other potential Clasico debuts
At this stage of the season, it’s rare to find players on the cusp of a first Clasico appearance—but Martin’s situation is one of necessity due to Balde’s absence. Could there be others making their debut in La Cartuja on Saturday? There’s a possibility, though perhaps not a strong one.

Pau Victor is the only other Barcelona player who has featured for the first team this season and remains uncapped in a Clasico. However, with just 274 minutes across 24 appearances, it seems unlikely he’ll be thrown into the mix—even with Robert Lewandowski sidelined through injury.

As for Real Madrid, several names—Fran Gonzalez, Jacobo Ramon, Lorenzo Diego Aguado, Chema Andres, Gonzalo and Yanez—have yet to taste Clasico action, though none appear likely to break through on such a grand occasion.